"In 2010, the show Parks and Recreation aired its “Galentine’s Day” episode, and ever since then, the gals have been celebrating this much-needed holiday. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s a special take on “Valentine’s Day.” Instead of going on a V-Day date with your SO, you have a night—or day—out with your best girlfriends. In fact, my mom friends and I love celebrating this holiday every year. If you’re needing inspiration on how to celebrate your very own annual Galentine’s Day, here are tips, tricks, and ideas on how to put one together. Let’s go, gals!
Planning your family travels for this year? Our team is sharing everything parents need to know from trending destinations and where to stay to what to pack and our tried-and-true tips for traveling with kiddos.
When to Celebrate Galentine’s Day
Traditionally, Galentine’s Day is celebrated on February 13. Before you stray away and say, “That’s on a school night,” this isn’t a strict rule. My girlfriends and I pull out our calendars to see when everyone is free, and we work around each other’s schedules. If you find yourself getting together in March, that is OK. As moms, we have busy schedules, but the important part is that it’s a special occasion. It’s a time to toast to each other as moms, as friends, and a day where we can have conversations—without being interrupted. So, the first step to planning is setting the date and time. Decide if the vibes are saying “brunch” or “dinner,” and go from there. I’m also for an all-day Galentine’s Day, too.
Galentine’s Day Theme Ideas
The opportunities are endless for a day out with your mom friends. Well, maybe not endless. We do have to get back to the kids at some point. The point I’m trying to make is that there’s no wrong way to celebrate Galentine’s Day. From a brunch to a picnic to a spa day, go with whatever your heart desires. Here are a few themes and ideas to get you started.
Flower Arranging
Flower arrangement classes are so fun, but it can get tricky booking one for a whole group. In order to accommodate all of our friends in one room, my friends and I, one year, decided to make our own flower arrangement bar at one of our houses. To do this, have everyone bring a bouquet or vase of their favorite flower(s), set them all in the middle of a table, and everyone can make their own flower arrangements to their liking. It may help to have an example at the front of the room. You can also set out a floral arrangement book for people to reference. Here are a few beginner supplies I suggest:
- A vessel for your flowers, like a vase or a pretty bowl
- Floral tape
- Floral scissors
- Water
“Favorite Things” Gift Exchange
Go out to dinner and spend an evening showering each other with your favorite things. For a “Favorite Things” Galentine’s Day, have each person wrap a few of their favorite things, like a watercolor workbook or their favorite travel essentials, and bring them to the party. Don’t forget to set a price range that meets everyone’s budget. Then decide how you want to do the exchange. Whether you draw names out of a hat or make it into a game, everyone will be leaving with a new favorite item.
Charcuterie Boards
A fun take on a traditional charcuterie board, pick your own theme for everyone to snack on, but make it potluck style. Ideas include a s’mores theme where you can include crackers, different types of chocolate, marshmallows, and even an indoor s’mores roaster. There are so many options to choose from, so get creative!
Other Charcuterie Board Theme Ideas
- Breakfast Board
- Taco Board
- Desserts Board
- Pizza Lovers Board
- Movie Night Board
- Chips and Dips Board
- Fruit Board
- Make Your Own Cocktail Board
Galentine’s Day Dinner Party
You can’t go wrong with a classic dinner party. Have it catered or make it potluck style, and include your favorite wine pairings. Turn on a record of Taylor Swift’s album Lover or your favorite Galentine’s Day playlist and enjoy sitting together and catching up.
Spa Day
Go out and have a spa day with the girls. This can include facials, manis, and pedis, or take a relaxing dip at a local hot spring. You also have the option of making it a DIY spa day by sitting around together with face and eye masks and painting each other’s nails.
Rom-Com Movie Marathon
The rom-coms are making a comeback—although I think they never left—so it’s time to bring your top two or three rom-com movies and make a night out of it. This is one of my favorite Galentine’s Day ideas. Throw on your favorite pair of PJs, pop some popcorn, and sit and laugh (or cry) together with movies like When Harry Met Sally and Fall Guy. Are you and your friends more of the literary rom-com type of girlies? Have a Galentine’s Day-themed book club for the month or find a romance-themed bookstore instead!
Hike and Picnic
Galentine’s doesn’t have to stick to the indoors. Getting active with a group of friends can make exercising way more fun. Hit a local trail or take an intro Pilates class together. Then finish off the day with a picnic or brunch at your favorite restaurant.
Other Galentine’s Day Ideas
- Cooking Class
- Scavenger Hunt
- Paint and Sip
- Wine Tasting or Brewery Tour
- Craft Night
- Game Night
- PowerPoint Presentations
Galentine’s Day Ideas for Long-Distance Friends
Besides being so busy with your kids’ schedules, you may be missing your mom friends who are too far to physically be together. That doesn’t mean you have to forego a mom’s night out because of distance. Create a virtual Galentine’s Day and watch a movie together through FaceTime or have a fun happy hour blocked in the schedule, so you can step away for a girls’ night in—virtually.
Make Galentine’s Day an Annual Tradition
Getting together with friends gets very logistical, like trying to make sure your significant other is free to watch the kids or finding a babysitter, especially if you’re a single mom. Sometimes, it can be months before you see each other. Making Galentine’s Day an annual tradition not only gives you and your friends something to look forward to, but you’ll create core memories. Every Galentine’s Day can be filled with new ideas and traditions. Do you and your friends celebrate Galentine’s Day? How are you celebrating this year?
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathons—she ran one 16 weeks pregnant—traveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.